Magneto-electric machine for ignition purposes.



C. A. VANDERVELL & P. I. HOFFMAN. MAGNBTO ELECTBIO'MAGHINE FOR IGNITIONPURPOSES.

APPLIOATION' FILED SEPT. 25, 1908; 939,357.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. A. VANDERVELL &'P. I. HOFFMAN. MAGNB'I'O ELECTRIC MACHINE FORIGNITION PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT: 25, 1908.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

SHEETS-$113M 2.

Fig 2.

UNITED s A'rEs rAT NT orrron.

CHARLES ANTHONY VANIDERVELL AND FREDERICK ISIDORE HOFFMAN, OF LONDON,ENGLAND.

MAGNETO-ELECTRIO MACHINE FOR IGNITION PURPOSES.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filedseptembel 25, 1908. Serial NO. 454,809.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES ANTHONY VANDERVELL, subject of the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland, and FREDERICK Ismonn HOFFMAN, subject of theEmperor of Ans tria-Hungary, both residing at London,

England, have invented new and useful Improvements in and Relating toMagneto- Electric Machines for Ignition Purposes, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to magneto-electric machines" particularly oftheso-called high tension type for igniting the combustible mixture of highspeed internal combustion engines and has for its object the directdriving by the magneto-electric machine of the current distributorwithout the intervention of any ratio gearing and the provision ofsimple means for igniting the charge in any number of cylinders withoutany change in the driving mechanism of the magnetoelectric machine.

The usual form ofmagneto-machine has a double poled H armature givingtwo sparks per revolution; and as multicylinde'r' motors require thesparking to take place at certain intervals in relation to the angle ofthe cranks some form of gearing is adopted for driving a distributorfrom the magnetomachine. This invariably takes the form of a pinion onthe armature spindle gearing into a wheel of double the size on thedistributer for use with a 2 or 4 cylinder motor.

For motors having a different number of cylinders a difi'erentdrivinggear of another ratio value has to be used.

By this invention we can obtain one spark external periphery of which wearrange an endless path such as a groove or a rib or equivalent device,but the ath is two, three or more times around the circumference. In

, the case of twice around, the path would cross itself once and in thecase of thricearound, it would cross itself twice. In conjunction withthe path we arrange a movable device or shuttle adapted to follow thepath. The cylinder may be substantially of insulating material and beprovided with rubbing contacts at the proper position in the path andthe movable device or shuttle will contact with these contacts as ittravels along the path. It is obvious the endless path may be formed onthe surface of a revolving disk or its equivalent and will produce thesame effect as the cylindrical arrangement. v I

In order that our invention may be the better understood we will nowproceed to describe the same in relation to the accompanying drawings,reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon.

Like characters refer to like parts in the various figures.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a magnetomachine with our distributerfitted thereto, the end .cover being removed to show the interior of thedistributer box. Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation on the line A-B ofFig. 1. Figs. 3 and at are sectional views of the distributor box. twoviews of the shuttle or movable contact device. By reference to thedrawings it will be seen that a known construction of magnetoelectricmachine for four cylinders is illustrated to which our invention hasbeen applied whereby' the 2 to 1 gear is avoided and the distributer isdriven directly by the armature shaft.

a represents the permanent magnets, 12 the condenser, c the low tensionmake and break device, and d the armature with high and low tensionwinding.

Upon the right hand end of the frame.

of the machine e'distributer box f of insulating material is mountedhaving four separate metal contacts 6 e e and 6 arranged in grooves zand is which cross and join one another at the point 3'. These groovesform Patented Nov. 9,1909.

Figs: 5 and 6 area series of annular paths, and a connecting path. Thecontacts 6 6 c and e are connected by conductors f, f f and f to socketsinto which connecting plugs g g, g

and g are inserted for connecting the sparking plugs to the distributer.On the'end of the armature shaft is fixed a device 9 consisting of abody of insulating material in which is disposed a metal casing r,having a tubular extension 8 in which a spring pressed carbon brush. Zis adapted to slide plunger 1) spring ressed' by a spring 0 an carryinga fie'x'ib e metallic tongue n having at its end the shuttle m.v

It will be seen that every two revolutions 4 contacts e e a .e are madesuccessively by the shuttle m following the ath of the convolutions iand is running. rst in one groove and then in the other. 7

Itis obvious that if the make and break device is done away with and thearmature has only one primary winding this arrangement can be used fordistributing the low tension generated current as well.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1 In a magneto-e1ectric machine having a movable element a currentdistributer consisting of a device having a series of paths joined up asone continuous path, a series of contact pieces disposed in the saidpaths,

a shuttle adapted to co-act with the said paths and constituting acontact piece which In the device g is slid- 2. In a magneto-electricmachine, a current distributer comprising a box of insulatin material,having a series of paths 'joine up as one continuous path, contactpieces arranged in .said paths, an armature,

a shuttle carried by the armature, said shuttle constituting a contactpiece connected to armature, and 'means for permittin the shuttle totravel in the continuous pat and make contact with the contact piecesarranged therein.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES ANTHONY VANDERVELL. FREDERICK ISIDORE HOFFMAN.

